Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

Just picked my third bottle of the new stuff, If its as good as the first two I have no complaints.

With HH making it, I would expect a good amount of consistency - but definitely share if that proves otherwise!

Gary (aka 'Country')=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough." - Mark Twain
"Because Whiskey Matters!" - David Perkins

Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

Did a quick sbs, not blind, but it wasn't even close. The new dsp-1 was very different to my palate, to the point I didn't like it at all and went back to the 354 just to put a good flavor in my mouth. There were mitigating factors and I'll give it another shot, I do have a whole bottle after all.

Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

Originally Posted by RVTsteve

Did a quick sbs, not blind, but it wasn't even close. The new dsp-1 was very different to my palate, to the point I didn't like it at all and went back to the 354 just to put a good flavor in my mouth.

I'm with you. Looks like I will be using my bottle of DSP-1 to make Manhattans. A number of people have posted that they prefer the DSP-1, but to me it isn't even close. Maybe there is a good deal of variability with the new stuff and I just got a bad bottle, but I'm not willing to buy another bottle at this point to see. I have a couple bottles of 354 on hand I will definitely bunker more when I find it.

Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

Next payday, I'm going to get one of each and do a personal SBS. I found a store which has both the 354 & the 1. I asked the owner if he had any feedback on the DSP-1 and he replied, "oh a couple of folks said it's better, a couple said it's not and another said nothing's changed". Like a lot of others, it probably comes down to individual palate.

Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

Got my first bottle of DSP-KY-1 yesterday and my palate says it's a massive improvement over the old rye- which I still love. The new Rittenhouse comes really close to tying my beloved WT 101 rye for my favorite whiskey. I can understand how others don't like it though- it's not the earthy, wet, maple sugar that the 354 stuff was. This is bold, spicy, and herbal in comparison. I think having Pikesville rye for a few years has helped the transition as that seemed to switch over to Bernheim rye a few years ago (It's age stated at only 3 years old).

If you have anything Michter's or Pennco and would like to sell it or share it with me, please let me know.

Re: DSP 354 vs DSP 1 Rittenhouse - How's the new stuff?

I can't believe I still haven't done this shootout yet. Every time I run out of Ritt BiB (which is often, it's my house rye), I grab a bottle of 354 from a place I know that has a bunch. However, I don't even know which one I like better yet. I suppose I'm just programmed to assume that the new stuff is always worse.

That said, I never drink the stuff neat, so that exercise would be pointless for me. It's always in a cocktail at my house, so I'll probably a blind cocktail tasting soon, which I've never done. Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and my latest favorite, the Nirvana. My guess is that I won't be able to notice a difference.